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Winnipeg Jets Game #44: Beat Buffalo Twice

By Kyle McCarthy

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 7: Winnipeg Jets Right Wing Patrik Laine (29) tries to control puck as Buffalo Sabres Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) defends during the New Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres NHL game on January 7, 2017, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 7: Winnipeg Jets Right Wing Patrik Laine (29) tries to control puck as Buffalo Sabres Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen (55) defends during the New Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres NHL game on January 7, 2017, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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After brief respite against  San Jose, the Winnipeg Jets are back to facing the Buffalo Sabres. This one takes place in west New York, at the Key Bank Center.

Winnipeg took home in a win against San Jose, and sit 6-0-1 and their last seven contests. The Sabres, however, lost to Philly over the weekend. They now have one win in their last seven games. Combine that with the Bills extended playoff run, and things are pretty grim these days.

Good news for Buffalo, though, as Steve Mason has been named the starter for tonight’s tilt. He’s likely to be opposed by Robin Lehner, who missed practice yesterday. He took a shot up high in Sunday’s game against Philadelphia (he must have actually made a save), but he’s likely to suit up.

Mason’s start will be his first in seven games and first of the new year. New year, new me. Well, new Mason, one can hope.  It’s understandable to give Connor Hellebuyck a breather, given the  matchup. He’s earned a rest.

Not much has changed since last time, so I can direct you here for last Thursday’s preview and here for the recap of the Winnipeg Jets 4-3 victory. Theoretically, you could opine that Buffalo learned from Thursday’s game and will come out stronger. You could also argue that  Winnipeg didn’t play hard enough and almost paid for it, and will toughen up.

As bad as we’ve ripped Mason, he might actually be faring better than Robin Lehner, albeit with a better defense and less playing time. Lehner has an .892 save percentage in his last five matches. Only one has been a victory.

It’s a matchup of Vezina finalists, I tell you. Since these teams faced each other a few days ago, I’ll keep it interesting and just make a couple predictions to set you up for tonight’s game.

  1. Dustin Byfuglien scores another goal – Why not? Big guy put a nice one in last game, do it again.
  2. Evander Kane drops the gloves – He received a not so warm welcome in Winnipeg on Thursday, and he’ll try and rile up the home fans with his fists. What the heck, I’ll say he scores one too.
  3. Evander Kane loses the fight, Sabres get pushed around – Buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo.
  4. Mason gets pulled, Lehner shows up – High time for one of these goalies to shut me up, and it’ll be Lehner tonight. He’s due. Enjoy the game, folks.
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